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Grain Binder. N'. 243,328. Patented June 21,- 1881. 2

UNITED y STATES PATENT OEEICE.

OHARLES L. TRAVIS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MINNEAPOLIS GRAIN BINDER COMPANY. I

GRAIN-BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,328, dated June 21, 1881.

Application filed November 2l, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, CHARLES L. TRAVIS, of Minneapolis, in the county ot' Hennepin and State ot' Minnesota, have invented certain Improvements in Grain Binding Machines, of which the following is a specitication.

This invention relates to that class of bindingmachines in which cord is employed as the binding material, and fastened by tying the ends of the applied band together; and it consists more particularly in improvements in the machine for which Letters Patent were granted to me bearing date June 3, 1879, No. 216,241, although certain of the features are applicable also to other machines.

The principal objects of the present invention are to secure the tightening of the band upon the bundle, to render the formation and tightening ofthe knot a matter ot' certainty, and to simplify the machine.

With these ends in view the invention consists in a peculiar manner ot' constructing the parts so that the cord to form the knot is drawn from the band upon the bundle and the knot tied without permitting the band to slacken; also, in arrangingthe knife and holder by which the cord is severed and held directly beneath the rotary tying-head, to retain the cord directly beneath and in position to enter said head; also, in a clamp located between the knife or equivalent cord-retaining device and the tying-head, to assist in holding and presenting the cord; also, in a movable arm or jaw located below the t) ing-head to assist in bringing the cord in the proper relation to the tying-head; also, in a. device of peculiar construction and arrangement to assist the binder-arm in presenting the cord across the center of the tying-head; also, in the manner of actuating the cord cutting and clamping knife;` also, in atension device embracing a at bearingsurface and an elongated spring bearing lengthwise upon the cord and rounded gradually upward at one end to its point of support; also, in various minor details, hereinafter described.

Referring `to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 representsa sectional elevation of the machine on the line of the binder-arm, which latter is shown in a descending position Fin.

2, a similar view with the binder-arm in its lowermost position and the two ends of the band'grasped by the tying devices; Fig. 3, a longitudinal vertical section on the line y y, Fig'. 1, showing the manner in which the ends ot' the band are presented to and held by the tying mechanism; Fig. 4, a plan view, showing the cord holding and tying devices with the covering-plate removed Fig. 5, a perspective view ot' the machine with the binding-table and covering-plate of the tying mechanism removed in order to expose the latter, the parts being shownin the positions which they occupy at the completion ofthe loop in the ends of the applied band; Fig. 6, a perspective view of the tyingfingers and their carrying shaft; Fig. 7, a perspective view of one end of the binding-table and the device for raising or is a cross-section ot' the same on the line x,-

Fig. 10a rear View ofthe same.

In its general construction and mode of operation the present machine resembles the one described in my former patent, hereinbefore al luded to, a vertically-vibrating binding-arm serving to carry thecord around the bundle and present it to a rotary head'havin g two transverse fingers or nippers, which twist the ends of the band into a loop and then draw the eX- treme ends through said loop to form the knot. A rotary knife also serves, as in the original machine, to sever the applied band and retain the newly-formed end.

A represents the bed-plate or base-frame of the machine, containing at one end all the cord retaining and tying devices, and B represents the grain receiving or binding table, which may be made either flat or concave, as preferred ,and which is, by preference, arranged Hush with the top of the base-frame. At one end the base-frame is provided with an upright rigid overhanging arm, O,sustainingthe horizontal rock-shaft D, to. one end of which the curved binder-arm E is rigidly secured. The binder-arm is made ofsuch length that when turned down its end passes beneath all the'tyin g and clamping mechanism, as shown'in Figs. 1, 2,

and 5. lThe arm is slotted at its end to receive the binding-cord and provided with two pulleys, between which the cord passes loosely, as shown, and, as usual in this class of machines, the binding-table is slotted to permit the binding-arm to pass through the same, beneath the grain, to the tying mechanism.- The outer end of the binder-arm shaft D is provided, as in the original machine, with a slotted arm actuated by a lever and crank in such manner as to cause the arm to swing upward and downward and pause for a short period at the end of the downward movement.

The-rotary tying-head, which revolves in a vertical plane and is similar in its general construction and mode of opera-tion to that in the original machine, consists of two rotating and laterally-moving knotting-ngers, and a surrounding sleeve xed against end movement to hold the cordI in the proper position to be acted upon by the fingers.

Referring to the drawings, F represents the external tube or sleeve, mounted loosely in bearings so that Ait may rotate, and provided with a circumferential groove, into which a Xed key or plate, a, extends, as shown, so as to prevent the sleeve from moving endwise.

G represents the main tying-finger, formed by cutting away, in the manner shown iri Fig. 6, the end of a round shaft, H, which has said end mounted inthe sleeve F, as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, and 6, the nger extends diametrically across the end ot' the shaft, at a short distance therefrom, so that the cord may be passed between them. The outer side of the finger G is` grooved or recessed lengthwise to receive the second and smaller finger, I, which is pivoted therein, at or near the middle, and arranged to open and close at the proper times in order to grasp and hold the ends of the cord.

An important improvement in the device consists in cutting away, as shown in Fig. 6, one side of the linger G at the free end of the small finger I, thereby producing a small groove or space, k, into which the ends of the cord may seat themselves as the loop is drawn over them in forming the knot.

In the original machine and others of its class, the ends vof the cord laid upon the outside of the fingers, in front of the loop, and offered a strong resistance to the escape of the loop over the ends of the n gers, so that the enlargement of the loop and the application of a strong force was required in forming the knot. By permitting the ends of the cord to close down within the fingers, as in the present device, the loop is permitted to pass over them and escape from the fingers quickly and easily and without being enlarged, thus securing the formation ofthe knot with less power and in a tighter manner than usual. The movement of the iin gers in a direction lengthwise of the sleeve F is secured by mounting the shaft H of the finger Gr in bearings on a horizontallyreciprocating plate, J, the movement of which causes the two ngers to move outward beyond the forward end of the sleeve, as shown in Fig. 4, so as to admit the cord behind them, and then move backward into the sleeve, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to bend or kink the cord prepara tory to twisting the same into a loop. The fingers receive an intermittent rotary Inotion through a pinion, K, applied to the rear end of the shaft H, and acted upon by a mutilated gear-wheel, L, as shown in Figs. t and 5.

For the purpose of drawing and holding the cord, when presented by the binder arm, against the end of the sleeve F, I form upon or attach to the end of the sliding plate, J, av

horizontal hooked arm or jaw, M, which moves forward and backward with the plate, so that the cord, being laid inside of the same by the binder-arm, is drawn back as the fingers recede, and held against and across the end of the sleeve in the manner shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 5.

The arm and its actuating devices may be made independent of the sliding plate, if desired; but the arrangement shown is considered the best.

In order to hold the ends of the applied band during the formation of the knot, and retain the cord during the interval whichoccurs between the action of the successive blades of the knife, a jaw, N, is arranged opposite the arm M, so as to bear against the cord as the latter is forced inward by the arm orjaw M.4 Thejaw or clamp N may be made rigid, if desired; but it is preferred to have it yield under the pressure of the arm M, for the reason that it will then have less tendency to cut or weaken the cord, and also because it will grasp the ends sooner. rIhe jaw N may be made elastic, or may be arranged to slide and urged outward by a spring, as shown in the drawings. If preferred, the jaw N may be rigid, and the arm M arranged to yield under pressure. The parts M-N act before the formation of the knot in the cord, and before the applied band is severed from the main cord, so as to retain the cord in the time that one knife-arm is succeeding the next.

O represents the cutting and clamping knife, located beneath the parts M N on the under side ot' a rigid plate, I. The knife is constructed with four radial eutting-arms,which act successively in connection with plate I to sever the cord. Beneath the knife, in an extension of plate P, there is pivoted an eccentric, Q, urged upward by a spring, R, so as to retain the cord. The construction and operation of the knife are essentially the same as in the patent granted to Olmsted, Travis, and Chute, dated April 23, 1878, No. 202,747. The location of said devices, however, in the present instance, directly beneath the tying-head is a feature ot' importance, since they are thereby enabled the better to grasp the cord and hold the same in the required position.

An important feature of the present invention is the manner of impartin g the intermittent rotation to the knife, which is by means of a vertically-revolvin g arm, R', as shown in IIS Fig. 5, which acts upon the arms of the knife one after another, imparting to the knife at each action a quarter-revolution, causing one armor blade to succeed the next, and sever and hold the cold. It will of course be understood that the knife acts but once during the binding of each bundle.

The knife-operating arm may be driven in any suitable manner, but in the present instance is mounted on a bottom shaft, S, which also carries the cani and gea r-wheel for actuating the tying-liead.

In order to assist the binder-arm in presenting the cord across the center of the tyingd head behind the fingers, I provide said arni,

as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 5, with a supplemental arm or iinger, T, pivoted at its rear end in a slot in the biiider-arin and arranged to close down when not in actionv into said arm. The free end oi' the finger T is notched to fit over the cord and provided with a side lip, which closes into a notch in the arm to prevent the finger from falling through the same. The finger is pivoted to the lowereiid of a rod, b, which is acted upon at its opposite end by a spring, c, attached to the binder-arm, in order to hold the finger T normally in a closed position within the binder-arm. The upper end of the rod b is provided with a side pin, d, and the standard C provided with a rigid arm, e, to act upon the pin el as the binder-arm descends in carrying the bandaround the bundie, and thereby raise the finger T from the binder-arm, so that it will pass above the tyinghead, as shown in Fig. 2. The finger T in thus rising lifts the cord in sncli manner that it extends in a vertical direction from the eye or rollers of the binder-arni to the end of the finger, whereby said parts are caused to carry it behind or inside of the finger G, directly across the center of the head.

On the top of the base frame or plate, at the point where the band leaves the grain, I place an upwardly-rounded rest or rib, U, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which serves to sustain and support the cord during the operation of tightening the band, and prevent it from chaing and cutting agaiustthe edgeof the slot or throat.

As a means of tightening the knot before the discharge of the bundle, I provide for raisingthe latter after the formation of the knot and before the tying-fingers release their hold. Any suitable device may be used for this purpose; but a simple and effective contrivaiice is that shown in the drawings, consisting of an arml or lever, lV, pivot-ed to the side of the base-frame and bent at right angles across the end of said frame, as shown iii-Figs. 3, 4, and 7. At its inner end the arni is extended downward to connect with a cain-wheel,X,by which the `arm is vibrated in a vertical direction.

' During the binding of the bundle the end-of shaft that carries the other cams and the driving-gear of the machine.

Infthe practical operation of the machine it is desirable that the cord shall receive a uniform tension, and it is therefore necessary to employ a tensoii device through which knots and other inequalities may pass without affecting its action. This result I secure, as shown in Fig. 1, by the employment of an ad'- justable tension-spring,Y, of ilat form,bearing lengthwise for a considerable distance upon the cord. The cord bears below upon a fiat surface, and the spring, which is raised and fastened at one end, bears on top of the cord over a considerable surface. The gradual elevation or upward curvature of the spring at one end is of importance, since it permits the knots and other great irregularities to en ter and pass easily. IVhenever a knot or thickened portion passes beneath the spring it lifts the same and decreases its bearing-surface, but at the same time increases its tension and pressure sufficiently to compensate therefor, and thus the tension is equalized. As shown in the drawings, the tension-spring is applied to aver tically-vibratiiig arm, Z,which serves to guide the cord and take up slack therein, as usual.

I am aware that it is old to use flat pressuresprings having a narrow bearing on the cord or thread; also, that one flat plate has been drawn against another by means of a stem and an adjustable spring, and therefore I do not claim either of said constructions. My device differs from others in that the spring itself forins the bearing-surface, that the bearing is a very extended one, and that at the receiving end the spring curves gradually upward, so that the knots and enlargements, which are frequently three or more times the diameter of the cord, can enter beneath the spring easily and gradually without causing any sudden strain or shock. Two eyes, g, on the arm Z guide the cord, and the spring is secured to one of said eyes and passed loosely through the other, which is provided with a pressurescrew, h, bearing onthe spring. The spring may be otherwise located and may be changed in forni, provided the inode of action is re tained.

The machine,being constructed as above described, is attached in any suitable manner to a harvesting-machine, and the grain delivered within reach of the binder-arin by means ot' elevating-aprons, as shown in the drawings, or otherwise. The cord being passed from the spool or ball through the tension devices and take-up, and thence through the binder-arm to the claiiipin g devices beneath the tyer-head, the action is as follows: The binder-arm E swings downward and carries the cord aroundA IOO IIO

cord and acting in connection with the binderarm to carry the two ends of the applied band vertically. across the center of the tying-head,

inside of or behind the main tying-finger G, which at this time stands outward in advance of the sleeve F. At the same time that the cord is thus laid behind the nger G it is presented, as shown, across the end ofthe sleeve F. As soon as the above operation is completed the binder-arm comes to a rest, the two fingers draw backward into the tube, bending the cord back therein loosely behind them, and at the time that this action commences the jaws MN clamp the two ends of the cord forming the applied band firmly together. The fingers, still having the cord bent loosely behind them, as stated, then revolve and thereby wind the cord around them into a loop, the portion of the cord which forms the loop being taken from between the clamp and the grain, so that the band is tightened upon the bundle or sheaf. As the fingers approach the end of the first revolution and complete the formation of the loop, the small outside finger I opens outward to grasp the cord below the loop, between the latter and the clamp. The fingers, continuing their rotation with the cord loosely behind them, crowd the loop upward toward the bundle, and then the finger I, at or about the end of the first rotation, closes firmly upon both cords, and the two fingers, without separating, move out of the tube. The knife then severs the applied band from the main cord and retains the newly-formed end, and at the same instant the clamp releases the ends, and the continued rotation of the fingers, which hold the cord firmly between them, causes the ends in a looped form to be drawn tightly into the first or main loop in such manner as to form a bowknot. The fingers retain their hold until they reach an upright position at the end of one and a quarter revolution, when they separate to release the looped end from between them but just before this takes place the arm W rises and lifts the bundle, so as to tighten the knot with additional firmness, so that there may be no chance of its slipping or loosening under any circumstances. The action ot the lifting-arm continues until the knot is drawn from the tyer and the bundle released. The firm hold ofthe fingers continues in every instance until the knot has been completely formed and drawn close, so that the band cannot slaeken under the strain of the grain.

A special advantage ot` my tyer consists in the fact that it ties the knot close to the grain, and that in the tightening of the knot the slack is taken up toward instead of away from the bundle. This is due to the fact that the ends of the band are clamped firmly during the formation of the loop, and that the ends to be drawn through the loop are seized firmly by the knotting-fingcrs before the knotting devices cease to act, and held by the fingers until the knot is drawn close. A clear distinction must be made between my device, which holds the ends firmlyand draws them through the loop to form a bow-knot, and those devices which hook loosely upon the ends and draw them loosely through the loop, leaving the parts in position to form a hard knot when the band expands so as to tighten the loop. In my case the fingers tighten the knot. In the other the knot is tightened by the expansion of the bundle and band taking up the cord which forms the loop and drawing the same around the ends.

I do not claim herein the described method of applying and securing` bands upon grainbundles, consisting in clamping the two extreme ends of the applied band in a fixed position, winding the ends between the clamp and thc bundle into a. loop, grasping the strands between the fixed clamp and the loop, releasing the ends from the fixed clamp, andV drawing them positively through theloop into a close knot; nor do I claim herein the combination ot' a grainsupport, Jnxed clamping device to hold the ends of the band, rotating and longitudinallymoving lingers located between the clamp and the grain-support, and operating mechanism, whereby the parts are caused to carry out the method of tying above described, the present invention being limited as regards the method of and devices for tying the knot to those matters which are specilicall y claimed herein; neitherv do I claim, broadly, herein, means for moving the bundle while the knottying devices retain their hold upon the band for the purpose of drawing the knot tight with a positive action, it being my design to make the same the subject of a separate application, and the invention, in the present case, being limited to the peculiar construction and arrangement of devices herein described and claimed; neither do l claim herein the linkconnection between the pivoted tying-finger and its actuating-bar, as this feature will also be made the subject-matter ot' a separate application.

As to all matters and things which may be shown or described, but which are not specifically claimed herein, the right is reserved to make them the subject of claims in future patents, the present invention being limited to the matters claimed.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination of the external tube and the rotary fingers lying transversely to the axis of the tube and arranged to move into and out of the same, as described, the construction being such that an open space for the free passage ofthe cord exists around and behind the fingers when they are within the tube.

2. In a tying device, the combination of an external tube or sleeve and two rotating tying jaws or fingers adapted and arranged to move lengthwise of the sleeve into and out of the same, and to leave afree and open space around and behind them when they are within the tube.

3. The combination of a clamp which holds firmly the two parts of the applied band, a sleeve or tube fixed againstend motion, a bandcarrier adapted to present both parts of the band across the mouth of the tube, and two IOC IIO

rotating and longitudin ally-moving fingers arranged to draw wit-hin the tube and carry the two parts of the band therein without thereby clamping or binding` said parts or ends.

4. The combination of the outside tube fixed against end motion, the two rotating longitudinall y-movin g n gers arranged to pass into the tube, and the jaw or clamp M, arranged to force and hold the two parts of the applied band across the mouth of the tube previous to the passage of the lingers therein.

5. In a grain-binder, the combination of a rotary tying-head, acord-clamp located below the same, and a cord cutting and retaining knife located below the clamp.

6. In combination with the movable plate carrying the tying-shaft, the arm' or jaw M, connected to and operated by said plate.

7. The combination of the rotary tying-head, the arm M, and yielding arm N, both located beneath the head, and adapted and arranged to clamp both parts of the applied band at the same time.

8. The combination of the rotary knife, having a plurality of arms or blades, and the actuating-arm arranged to rotate in one direction only, and to act directly upon the arms of the knife, as described and shown.

9. In combination with the binder-arm and its finger T,the rod b,spring c, and fixed arm e.

10. In a rotary knot-tying device, the combination of two tying-fingers, the first one seated in the second, and the second provided with a groove to receive the first, and with a depression or recess on one side, to receive the ends of the cord as the loop is drawn off from the ends ofthe fingers, as described and shown.

11. A tension device for lbinding-machines, consisting of an extended surface to sustain the cord, and an elongated flattened spring arranged to bear lengthwise, and for a considerable distance directly upon the cord, said springv being free at one end, but having the receiving end curved gradually upward and secured rigidly to an elevated support, in the manner shown and described, whereby the entrance of knots and excessive enlargements beneath the spring is facilitated, sudden strains and shocks upon the cord prevented, and a substantially uniform tension produced.

12. The tension device consisting of the elongated bearin g-surface, the iiat elongated spring having one end curved gradually upward and` secured to an elevated support, and the adjusting device bearing upon the spring, as shown.

CHAS. L. TRAVIS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. DODGE, LYMAN R. CASEY. 

